How many sharks are killed a year for shark fin soup?
73 million sharks
Continued demand for shark fin soup, dumplings, and other shark fin dishes served in restaurants around the world perpetuates the practice of finning, resulting in an estimated 73 million sharks being killed each year for their fins alone.
Is shark finning illegal?
But that would be against state law. California is one of 12 states that bans the sale of shark fins—measures to help prevent further declines of shark populations and to deter finning, which has been illegal in U.S. waters since 2000.
Why is shark fins controversial?
The lack of value in shark meat results in the devastating practice of ‘finning’. This entails hunting sharks and slicing off only the fin, and then throwing the still-living shark back into the ocean to suffocate, bleed to death, or be eaten by other animals.
Is shark finning ethical?
Shark finning is unsustainable. Not only do humans decimate shark populations, but sharks have low reproductive rates, making repopulation difficult. Many types of sharks are exploited for their fins, including endangered species such as the Scalloped Hammerhead and Great Hammerhead.
Can a shark live without its top fin?
The loss of a dorsal fin will likely impair the shark’s ability to catch prey at high speed but their ability to forage for injured prey probably allows them to survive,” Mumby told Forbes.
Who eats shark fins?
Shark fin soup is a traditional soup or stewed dish served in parts of China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. The shark fins provide texture, while the taste comes from the other soup ingredients. It is commonly served at special occasions such as weddings and banquets, or as a luxury item.
What do Chinese do with shark fins?
The cartilage in the fins is usually shredded and used primarily to provide texture and thickening to shark fin soup, a traditional Chinese soup or broth dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The dish is considered a luxury item embodying notions of hospitality, status and good fortune.